Jill Pellettieri

Jill Pellettieri is an Associate Professor and Language Coordinator in the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures at Santa Clara University (SCU), part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She has been tenured at SCU since 2005 and previously served as Chair of the department for six years. Her roles include teaching Spanish, linguistics, and coordinating language programs. Prior to SCU, she worked at UC Davis and Cal State San Marcos, where she trained graduate language teaching assistants and chaired the World Languages Department.

Prof. Pellettieri holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish applied linguistics from UC Davis, where she was the first recipient of the Designated Emphasis in Second Language Acquisition. Her research focuses on instructed second language acquisition, computer-mediated learning, community-based education, and the application of linguistic principles in teaching Spanish. She has published scholarly articles and authored/coauthored textbooks for university Spanish instruction.

Her teaching spans elementary through advanced Spanish language courses, Hispanic linguistics, and the history of the Spanish language. She emphasizes student engagement through interactive and culturally immersive approaches. Beyond academia, she is an avid traveler and enthusiast of Spanish/Latino culture, literature, and outdoor activities like mountain-biking the Camino de Santiago.